AAP, Congress should join hands to form govt in Delhi: Kiran Bedi

Even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said on Friday that it lacked the numbers to form the government in Delhi, retired police officer Kiran Bedi said here that she wanted the AAP and the Congress to join hands for the purpose.

Even as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said on Friday that it lacked the numbers to form the government in Delhi, retired police officer Kiran Bedi said here that she wanted the AAP and the Congress to join hands for the purpose.

Interacting with the media during the Hindustan Times panel discussion on ‘Women Safety: Challenges and Way Forward’, Bedi said, “The AAP can form the government, but it is preferring not to do so. Even the Bharatiya Janata Party does not have the requisite numbers.”

“I want the Congress and AAP to come together to form the government. The AAP has been offered support by the Congress, but it is completely their choice what they want to do,” she said.

Talking about the AAP’s performance, Bedi said people had given their mandate to the party. “The AAP, as a group, planned their poll campaign very well. The build-up started almost three years ago and it gained momentum in the past one year.”

Commenting on the ongoing fast of Anna Hazare to press for a strong jan lokpal bill, Bedi said “The andolan (agitation) will go on till both Houses clear the bill. It has been tabled in the Rajya Sabha.”

“If Hazare had not been fasting now, the bill would not have been tabled in the House. The government knows how seriously people take things when Hazare observes a fast,” she added.

Bedi, who will join Hazare’s crusade in Delhi on Saturday, said the Parliament select committee, comprising members of all political parties, had sent recommendations to the government on the lokpal bill, of which 95% were accepted. She added that the constitution of the lokpal would be a good beginning of the country.

When asked whether she wanted to contest the upcoming parliamentary elections, Bedi said, “I will not contest any elections as I have no wish to join politics. I want to remain independent.”